Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
299. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the local enterprise offices located in each county; the number of staff who work in each office in 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47128/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEOs are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports if you intend to start or grow your own business.
The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories: Feasibility Grants; Priming Grants and Business Development Grants for existing businesses that want to expand.. In addition, there is a Technical Assistance Grant available for eligible micro-exporter applicants who are seeking to explore alternative markets for their product or service.
For anyone interested in starting or growing a business, the LEOs may be able to offer ‘soft’ support in the form of training (e.g. a Start Your Own Business course); a mentor to work with the business proposer; or targeted programmes such as Lean for Micro (to help boost business productivity and competitiveness).
The LEOs will continue to support and promote micro-enterprises throughout the country, the number of staff that work in each office in 2018 is detailed below:
Local Enterprise Office Staffing 2018
|
- |
No. of LEO Staff (note 1) |
DBEI/EI Funded Graduates (note 2) |
Total LEO Staff Complement |
|
Carlow |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Cavan |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Clare |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Cork City |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Cork North & West |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
Cork South |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Dublin City |
10 |
1 |
11 |
|
Dublin South |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Fingal |
8 |
1 |
9 |
|
Galway |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Kerry |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Laois |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Leitrim |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Limerick |
8 |
1 |
9 |
|
Longford |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Louth |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Meath |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Waterford |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Westmeath |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Wexford |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Wicklow |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Total |
178 |
18 |
196 |
Note
1. This is the staff complement as agreed between the County and City Managers Association, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Enterprise Ireland.
2. Graduates funded by Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation/Enterprise Ireland that started a 3-year contract in the LEOs in mid-2018.
